In a statement this morning, Branson said the following
about his Bitpay stake, the amount of which was not
disclosed:

Banking as we know it is in the midst of enormous change
and innovation. We have jumped in by investing in alternative
payment models and also by accepting bitcoin for tickets on
Virgin Galactic, the world’s first commercial
spaceline.

Bitpay has proven itself to process bitcoin safely and
reliably, growing the market and increasing adoption, which
continues to build trust, legitimacy and momentum in this
exciting currency revolution.

It's hard to argue with the premise that traditional banking is
in trouble. Digital banking featured as
one of Citi's 10 innovations reshaping the planet, and much
of the focus in Bitcoin shifts from its speculative value to how
its underlying technology can be used.